Longtime Mahoning Valley broadcaster John Caparanis dies at 78
The Mahoning Valley journalistic community is mourning the loss of their own, former high school and college broadcaster John Caparanis, who recently died at the age of 78 after a long battle after complications from suffering COVID-19.
Caparanis gained fame as being the voice of Youngstown State men’s and women’s basketball and also covering Friday night high school football and basketball for a host of outlets, including doing a stint in the broadcast booth for the old cable access Pilot 9 television station in Trumbull County back in the 1980s.
John Caparanis was a modern-day Renaissance Man
But John Caparanis, known as “Cappy” by sports fans, family and friends, was more than a sports broadcaster and journalist. He was a modern-day Renaissance Man, a man for all seasons, who served his country and his community. He was a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves serving during both the Vietnam and Gulf wars. He was an elected councilman for the city of Cortland and also served on his church council at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Cortland.
Cappy always had a story to tell but his greatest pride and joy was his family, which includes his wife of 56 years, the former Shirley Emch, three children and five grandchildren.
What friends said about John Caparanis
Former Tribune Chronicle sports reporter Mike McLain was good friends with Cappy, saluting his “old-style” broadcasting style that did not include shouting.
“He was a kind and generous man, supportive and complimentary of others in their pursuits,” McLain said.
McLain said he will miss most their conversations about the Civil War, as Cappy often gave talks about the great generals from that conflict.
An Ohio University graduate, one of Cappy’s classmates and colleague, as legendary Cleveland Cavalier broadcaster the late Joe Tait, whom he continued a close friendship with.
For over 20 years, Cappy ran an afternoon drive time sports talk show on the Valley’s original 24-hour sports talk station WBBW 1240-AM that still continues that format today. Cappy treated all his callers with respect and even struck up longtime friendships with many of them. Funeral arrangements were handled by Peterossi and Son Memorial Chapel of Warren.
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